August 2001:

By Wednesday we were wondering why he hadn't been paid yet. AISoft pays us monthly around the 27th, but not in July. We finally asked our supervisor what happened. Apparently someone forgot to deposit the money into our accounts. He thanked us for bringing this to his attention and told us we should get paid tomorrow. You would think that a software company would automate direct deposit payments...

Cellphone update: our cellphone service will be terminated as of Tuesday, August 7th. If you need to call either of us, please do it before then. The number can be found on the Contact Page.

Thursday night we were invited to a good-bye dinner at the Murai's house. Mrs. Murai cooked some delicious fried chicken, served some fresh vegetables from her garden and some take-out sushi. Later that night we went outside and lit fireworks for the kids. It was lots of fun. I never got to know the Murai family very well, but they were always friendly and happy to help us out whenever we needed anything. They certainly helped make my stay in Japan a pleasant one.

Friday night AISoft threw a farewell party for the three of us at a Japanese restaurant. The food was good, and there was lots of beer. Typical Japanese nomikai (drinking party). We got some gifts too, including Japanese pyjamas.

Saturday we treated Yukari and Satoshi to lunch, for all the hard work they did over the past year to make us feel welcome. We went to a kaiseki restaurant, which is considered high-class Japanese food. Tiny but delicious portions of sashimi, tofu, unagi and various other unidentifiable dishes kept coming for nearly an hour. It was the most beautifully presented meal I've ever had, and certainly one of the most delicious.

Saturday night was Matsumoto Bon-Bon, a huge celebration where the streets of Matsumoto are filled with a dancing parade of people (including us). We were invited by our basketball friends to join their group. Were were supplied with Japanese jackets and lots of beer, and for three hours we danced to the same song being played over and over. I don't think I'll ever get the Bon-Bon song out of my head. After the festival, we went out to a Chinese restaurant for a late dinner and didn't get home until really late.

Tuesday night was John and Ryan's last Japanese class, so they had to give speeches. After class we went to an Italian restaurant and everyone was there. We ate some delicious spaghetti and socialized until the restaurant managers very politely kicked us out. It was a teary farewell for some, since this was the last time most of our Japanese friends will see Moui, since she's leaving on the weekend.

One of the things I will remember the most about Japan is how much our new friends made us feel welcome. Although I am a stranger in their country, they always made an effort to make me feel like I belong and that I am welcome here. I'll never forget how well I was treated in Japan.

Thursday night was our last Risk game at Moui's. She leaves on Friday night, so about ten of us headed over with beer and snacks and played until late.

Ok, tonight (Friday) I'm staying in to study. My exam is tomorrow afternoon at my Japanese teacher's house (Honma sensei). Although this course isn't crucial to my degree, I'm still stressed about it, getting the random Exam-Time Panic Attacks. For example, I'm in the shower shampooing my hair, when all of the sudden a thought hits me:

The answer: $750.

Sunday we (Guillaume, Hirory, Ryan and I) are going to Hiroshima, then on Monday we're leaving Ryan behind and going to South Korea to meet John, who left on Wednesday. There will be the usual Photo Gallery and Misc Rambling additions when I return.

Gone to South Korea. Will be back Aug 21.

Well, everybody is gone. Moui left on the 10th, John on the 20th, and Ryan on the 21st. Thomas leaves on the 23rd, and Guillaume on Sept 1st, so the dorm is a little emptier these days.

One of the head teachers from our free weekly Japanese lessons gave each student a home-grown watermelon. This is especially strange, since Japanese backyards usually aren't big enough to grow one watermelon, let alone a dozen. Japanese watermelon, called suika, are round and about half the size of North American watermelons. Wednesday night I invited some friends who live near the dorm over to eat the two watermelons Hilory and I had. We had a dozen people there, but we still couldn't eat it all. I even gave some to the dorm manager and to whoever I happened to see at the dorm that night.

Thursday I had my last physiotherapy session. Both the physiotherapist and the physician were amazed at my progress. I can now make a fist with my left hand with minimal pain. The wonders of medical science never cease to astound me (or the doctors, it seems).

Thursay I also transferred all (!) my money to my Canadian account. The exchange rate is the best I've seen it in 6 months (nice timing, eh?), so I'm hitting up my friends for some cash until payday.

Do miracles ever cease? I got an email from my University of Waterloo Computer Science Advisor, telling me that all the problems I was having with my Fall 2001 course schedule have magically been cleared up. I am now enrolled in all (permission pending for Japanese 201) the courses I had pre-registered for. Maybe I'll be coming home to a new UW, a UW that works for the student, an accountable UW that actually tries to make life a little easier for us.

Who am I kidding?

I updated my Third Page of Photos to include some lost photos. Take a look.

Friday night Aika and I went to the Orange Bar, a small bar where a lot of foreign English teachers hang out (I don't remember the last time I was in a room with that many white people!). After a while Taizo and Tomonori showed up. We stayed late and got a ride home from a kindly English teacher from Seattle.

Saturday I woke up and decided to start packing, which took up most of the day. There is now a huge pile of garbage in my room, including clothes turned to rags by ruthless Japanese washing machines, My notes from the Actuarial Science course I took, and a ton of tissue packs given out at the train station.

After packing, Guillaume, Hilory and I went to a wine and cheese tasting with Yukari and Satoshi. We sat down in front of a platter of Italian cheeses, which I guess the host didn't feel had aged enough, because she talked for a full half hour before we were allowed to eat it. The food was excellent, getting better with each glass of wine. After a few hours we stumbled out giggling and went home.